These days, it’s hard to operate a business without incorporating technology of some kind. As the years go by, competition has stiffened, and every startup has to develop strategies that separate them from the crowd. At first glance, that’s a bit hard to do when there’s an array of new tools popping up overnight. You have to do some in-depth research to figure out which ones actually suit your business goals.
You’re not going to get ahead in business if you don’t ask yourself what tools you need and how to incorporate them correctly. With that in mind, here are some vital tools for startups.
1. Security Tools
Although great for business, having an online site comes with many risks. Companies need to look for ways to guard themselves against the various online attacks while also giving their employees the privacy to conduct day to day activities. With that in mind, getting a private IPv4 address is a good start. If you’re unsure where to look, companies like IPV4 Connect can help. Their tried and tested platform is safe for buying and selling clean and safe Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPV4) blocks.
They collaborate with IPV4 address block owners and regional internet registries to ensure that they offer a certifiably clean IPV4 address space. Their team of experts equally researches IPV4 address subnets located in APNIC, ARIN, and RIPE. They also specialize in blacklist reporting and routing record removal. Some notable names they’ve extended their services to include Zoom, Deloitte, Procter & Gamble, and Radware, among others.
2. Media and Gaming Editing Tools
Yes, there are generic tools that every company should have in their repertoire to drive business growth. Nevertheless, you won’t get by without some industry-specific tools. For example, if you’re in the legal sector, software like Clio is a good fit. Likewise, for those who require an accounting tool, there’s Xero and Quickbooks. In the gaming & media industry, however, you’ll need the best CPU for video editing.
Every video editor knows that it takes more than creativity to produce good work. But with the right CPU, users can do everything from choosing the right footage to creating motion or getting a particular angle. Altogether, having sufficient CPU power streamlines the entire editing process. If you need the CPU to run best video editing software, it might be best to check on review sites like Econsumermatters.
They’re stocked with a wide range of topics and products. Their verdict when it comes to the best video editing CPU in 2020 is AMD’s Ryzen Threadripper 3960X. This CPU, in conjunction with excellent editing software, offers turbo speed, and the core processor carries out a range of functions such as streaming, encoding, rendering, and playing simultaneously. All of this carries a lot of weight for filmmakers and game developers.
3. Custom Software Development Tools
Sure, there is a wide array of software available for both generic and industry-specific use. But the best product is often custom-made. So, if you’re after a uniquely designed tool with features specific to your business, you’ll likely benefit from the help of a software development agency like Devsu.
They develop custom software, digital products, and cloud services. With a talented team of tech experts, they deliver speedy results and up to date products to streamline workflow. Their processes include custom software development, testing, quality assurance, cloud computing, product design, and DevOps, among others.
4. Social Media Management Tools
With social media at the core of marketing and image management, it’s a cardinal sin not to be covered on that front. There are several ways to amplify your startup’s social media marketing, but the best choice you can make is to get a social media management tool.
Altogether, you can use software like Hootsuite, Buffer, Sendible, or Social Pilot to interface on multiple platforms simultaneously. A large part of what you can do depends on the option you pick. However, for the most part, you can track competitors, create content, and engage followers.
5. Communication Tools
Regardless of the sector, communication is something you can’t skimp on. Communication tools should come into the mix to cut through the workload in a timely and aligned manner. Your teams and personnel should be able to liaise on a central platform. It makes it a lot easier to remain on the same page, especially with time-sensitive products. Again, there are lots of options out there, so you have to find something that’s not just suitable for your business needs but equally incredible in terms of pricing. Altogether, it’s not a bad idea to key into some of the benefits of using communication tools.
6. Video Conferencing Tools
Everyone and their grandmother know how much havoc COVID-19 has wreaked on the world as a whole. The effects and impact have, of course, trickled into the business sector. For one, the physical workspace has been rendered obsolete, and working from home has become the order of the day. With this switch, video conferencing tools like Skype for Business and Zoom have become a must-have for all businesses. They make it a lot easier for businesses of all sizes to hold meetings and communicate without being in the same location.
7. SEO Tools
In this online business age, SEO can be one of the major things that gives you an edge over your competitors. If the aim is to rank highly on Google and help you with organic research to that effect, then you can’t do it manually. Options like Ahrefs and SEMrush are a good fit for most businesses across the board. With them in the mix, you can double down on keyword research and backlink analysis. You can equally carry out advertising research, traffic analytics, and product listing ads, among other features.
8. Customer Relation Management (CRM) Tools
Customers are an integral part of every business—new and old. So, it’s essential to set up systems that ensure you only offer your best performance. That is where a dedicated CRM tool comes into play. Once you find the right fit, you can easily store present and prospective customer information, track their interaction, and generally keep the relationship in the sweet spot. If you can swing it, a cloud-based CRM system is even better for the fast-paced nature of the business world. That provides better accessibility and, in turn, streamlines business operations.
9. Project Management Tools
This tool is a particularly useful tool for managers across all business sectors. If you’re going to stay on top of one complex task after the other, you’ll need more than a to-do list. With one of these tools in your repertoire, you can prioritize important tasks and develop a strategy to tackle them. Some advantages of adding this tool to the mix include an effortless workflow, better task management, synchronized calendars, and schedules, as well as project tracking.
10. Human Resource Management Tools
Human resource management is probably the heart of every organization. So, it makes sense that they’d need dedicated tools to carry out their duties effectively. Once most of their processes are automated, it’s a lot easier to manage employees in a timely and less costly manner. Everything from handling applications to payroll and even training can be streamlined.
Picking the right tool can be a hassle, and you can guess why. Due to how useful these tools are, they’ve managed to saturate the market. But a good place to start when looking is to figure out how the features assign with your business goals and also take a look at the affordability.